Short answer: Medicare Part B covers ambulance transportation when it is medically necessary and using another type of transportation could endanger the patient’s health. Medicare does not cover an ambulance simply because it is more convenient.
Original Medicare coverage
Part B covers ground ambulance transportation to the nearest appropriate hospital, critical access hospital, rural emergency hospital, or skilled nursing facility that can provide the needed care. Medicare may cover emergency air transportation when a plane or helicopter is required because ground transportation cannot provide sufficiently rapid access to care.
Limited non-emergency ambulance transportation may be covered when it is medically necessary. A written order from a doctor or other qualified provider may be required. Repetitive scheduled non-emergency transportation may be subject to prior authorization.
Eligibility and limits
Coverage depends on the patient’s condition at the time of transport and whether another vehicle could have been used safely. Medicare generally pays only to the nearest facility able to provide the required care. If the patient chooses a more distant facility, the patient may owe the additional transportation cost.
For a non-emergency trip that the ambulance company believes Medicare may not cover, the company may give the patient an Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage before transport.
Costs
After the Part B deductible, you generally pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount. Charges may be higher when a trip is not covered or when the destination is farther than the nearest appropriate facility.
Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage plans cover medically necessary emergency ambulance services. Plan rules for non-emergency transportation, networks, and prior authorization may differ. Emergency care cannot be delayed to obtain routine plan approval.
What to do next
- Call 911 in an emergency.
- For scheduled transportation, ask the provider and ambulance company about medical necessity and prior authorization.
- Ask whether the destination is the nearest appropriate facility.
- Read any coverage notice before a non-emergency trip.
Coverage is determined from the claim, the patient’s eligibility, provider status, and applicable Medicare rules. A provider’s recommendation does not guarantee payment. Before a planned service, ask the provider what will be billed and ask Medicare or the plan whether any coverage review is required.
Sources
Last reviewed: August 2026. Medicare rules and plan benefits can change.